"All necessary steps are being taken to ensure the safety of all patients, visitors and staff,” the hospital said in a statement. “We will continue to work closely with federal, state and city health officials to address and monitor this case, keep the community informed and provide the best quality care to all of our patients."

In a news conference early this evening, hospital officials said the odds are this case is not Ebola. The patient had a fever and recently traveled to a West African country, where he returned from last month.

The unidentified patient was was promptly put into isolation as a precaution, the officials said.

“After consultation with CDC and Mount Sinai, the [NYC] Health Department has concluded that the patient is unlikely to have Ebola. Specimens are being tested for common causes of illness and to definitively exclude Ebola,” according to a department spokesperson.

ABC News chief health and medical editor Dr. Richard Besser said the patient’s symptoms don’t necessarily point to Ebola, but Mount Sinai was following precautionary recommendations sent out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week.

“Many things cause fever and gastrointestinal symptoms,” Besser said. “The steps they are taking are wise given the travel history, but nothing about the symptoms is specific to Ebola.”